Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi is a Ugandan politician, Economist and Member of Parliament Butambala County Constituency. 

His political views and styles are closer to that of Dr Kizza Besigye Kifefe, former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), leader of People’s Government and the four-time presidential candidate. 

To Kivumbi, Besigye is his role model. 

Early Life and Education

Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi was born on 19th Oct 1973 in Butambala District, Central part Uganda.

In 1986, Kivumbi sat for his Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) at Gombe Primary School. In 1990, he sat for his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams at Kibuli Secondary School.

In 1993, Kivumbi sat for his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams at Kibuli Secondary School. In 1998, Kivumbi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree at Makerere University.

In 2003, he obtained an Associate Degree in Democracy and Development, at Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi. While in 2004, Kivumbi attained a Master of Human Resource Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI).

Work Experience

Member of Parliament Butambala County Constituency 2013 to date. Shadow Minister of Internal Affairs 2014 to date. 2000-2001, Deputy Secretary-General Clerical Union. 1999, Personal Assistant to the Managing Director Peacock Paints

Politics

Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi’s political journey began the time he worked at Peacock Paints as an assistant to the director, Kaddu Kiberu. But when his political views grew stronger for Kaddu, Kivumbi was shown the exit route.

Then Kivumbi devoted his life to political activism. 

However, over time as a result of political circumstances, Kivumbi’s political views started to evolve including his views about Mengo, a Buganda Government where he was less active. 

One of the experiences that helped change Kivumbi’s political views about Mengo is the harsh treatment Dr Paul Kawanga Ssemwogerere received from the government during the 1996 presidential election bid over his pro-Mengo stance.

 As Ssemwogerere’s campaigner in Buganda, Kivumbi suffered the wrath of security agents, forcing him to recalibrate his views and approach. Today, he is unashamedly radical and prefers activism to ideological debates. 

Kivumbi’s first attempt at elective politics ended in defeat when he lost his bid to become Guild President at Makerere University in the mid-1990s.  

In 1998, Kivumbi contested for the Youth MP Central Region and he lost to Faisal Kikulukunyu.

In the 2011 elections, Kivumbi lost again to Kikulukunyu before the election was nullified on grounds of bribery but later the results were overturned making Kivumbi the winner.

Kivumbi is made of steel, unyielding and sometimes pushes beyond the limits. His political activism has led him to prison several times.

He was a leader of the pressure group, Popular Resistance Against Life Presidency (PRALP) and started a campaign against the lifting of the presidential term limit in 2004. As a result, he was arrested five times in two years.

Kivumbi was one of the brains behind Activists for Change (A4C), an opposition – leaning pressure group that started the walk-to-work campaign to draw attention to the harsh economic conditions in the country. Off the streets, he also made his contribution. 

Kivumbi abandons DP to NUP 

Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi revealed that it was a painful decision to abandon his longtime political party the Democratic Party (DP) for the National Unity Platform (NUP). 

He narrates that he never thought that he would leave DP, a party he loved at heart. Kivumbi together with other 10 MPs from Uganda’s oldest political party crossed to NUP, a new party formed in 2020 headed by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, the 2021 presidential candidate.

Among the ten MPs included; Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, Busiro East MP Florence Namayanja, Bukomansimbi Woman MP Veronica Nanyondo, Kyotera Woman MP Robinah Ssentongo, Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga, Masaka Municipality MP Ssempala Emmanuel Kigozi, Makindye Ssabagabo MP Allan Ssewanyana and Rubaga North’s Moses Kasibante.

Kivumbi said that although most people may see them as great enemies to DP, they took the decision to leave in tears because they never wanted to, but the internal wrangles within the party forced them.

“In my life, I cannot compare leaving DP with any decision I have ever made, this was too painful, to leave the only party I knew. However, I had to do it given the fact, DP president Norbert Mao had no any single respect for us, he has been abusing us any time he wants, but I think where he us, as an intelligent man due to this defection maybe he will change,”